Pickin’ and a Grinnin’

A bullet weight is a cone-shaped staple of bass anglers. It is heavier, punches through vegetation better, and hangs up less than a split shot sinker.

To rig, the fishing line threads through the hole in the center of the weight, then the hook is tied to the end of the line. Gravity usually keeps the weight against the hook and the accompanying soft plastic lure (Texas rig). But sometimes conditions call for some separation between lure and weight (Carolina rig).

Here, a wooden toothpick comes in handy. Insert it into the weight hole with the line and break off the tip. Now the weight is secured where you, and hopefully the fish, want it.

Bassmaster Elite Pro Denny Brauer always pegs his weight when flipping. Terry Scroggins uses toothpicks to help secure rubber worms to the eye of his hooks to help with longer casts. FLW Pro Mike Wurm (great name!) recommends flat toothpicks because they cause less damage to the line.

I don’t have a toothpick dispenser on my boat yet, but I don’t let a frilly toothpick from a club sandwich go to waste any more either.

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Andy Whitcomb

Andy Whitcomb is a columnist, outdoor humorist, and stressed-out Dad. He says there are “people who fish”… and there are “fishermen”. One of the few things he knows is that he is a “fisherman”... To the point it could be classified as borderline illness. Sharing this obsession is rewarding, therapeutic. He likes to encourage people to “stop and smell the crappie." Enjoys catching fish, but gets a greater thrill out of helping someone else hook up.
Born in Florida, but raised on the banks of Oklahoma farm ponds. Now relocated to western Pennsylvania. He has fished, worked, lived all around the US. He has a B.S. in Zoology from Oklahoma State as well...
And he met his wife while electrofishing. He has been contributing weekly to www.takemefishing.org since 2011.

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